Rangers at Flys tonight

So, I’m sure you all saw Martin Brodeur leave the game last night in Chicago with an elbow injury … not sure if it’s serious or if he’ll be back by tomorrow.

Tomorrow it’s worth watching if the second of back-to-backs on the road trumps the first-game-back-after-a-road trip. Because the Devils are one of the few teams, I think, who have somehow not succumbed to that the way, say, the Rangers have.

But before that, the Rangers have some biz in Philly tonight. And this evening we’ll find out if Henrik Lundqvist gets both games, or if Martin Biron gets one … and we’ll find out if that shot off the neck the King took from Brian Boyle at practice yesterday was serious.

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Here are tonight’s game notes from the Rangers. To read more, click “more.”

TONIGHT’S GAME:The Rangers will face-off against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center (7:00 p.m.), in the first game of a back-to-back set against Atlantic Division rivals. The Blueshirts currently rank second in the Atlantic Division standings, and fifth in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 6-4-1 (13 pts). The Rangers enter the contest having defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-2, on Monday at Madison Square Garden, and have now won five of their last seven games (5-2-0). The Flyers enter the contest with a 7-4-1 (15 pts) record to rank second in the Eastern Conference, and have won each of their last four contests. Rangers will travel to New Jersey to face-off against the Devils, tomorrow, Nov. 5, at the Prudential Center (7:00 p.m.), to close out their third of 18 back-to-back sets of the season.

All-Time: The Rangers are 108-103-37-7 all-time against the Flyers: 56-45-23-4 at home and 52-58-14-3 on the road

2010-11: Tonight’s contest marks the first of six meetings between the Rangers and Flyers this season, and first of three games at the Wells Fargo Center

Last Season: New York was 3-2-1 against the Flyers in 2009-10, including a 1-1-1 mark at Philadelphia. Five of their six meetings were decided by two goals or less, including three that were decided by one goal.

New York is tied for fourth in the NHL on the road with a record of 4-1-0 (8 pts) in five games; Philadelphia has posted a record of 5-3-0 (10 pts) in eight home games to rank third in the league

The Rangers have posted a record of 1-1-0 vs. the Atlantic Division; the Flyers have registered a 3-1-0 mark vs. Atlantic Division opponents

Henrik Lundqvist posted a record of 3-2-1 with a 2.05 goals against average and .934 save percentage in six contests vs. Philadelphia last season, and is now 14-7-3 with a 2.79 goals against average and two shutouts in 26 career games against the Flyers

Ruslan Fedotenko has registered 13 goals and 23 points in 32 career regular season contests vs. Philadelphia; Dan Girardi has recorded 15 assists in 24 career games vs. the Flyers

Power Play: The Rangers tallied one goal in three power play opportunities (5:00) on Monday vs. Chicago, and are now 5-23 (21.7%) with the man advantage over the last six games. New York is tied for 14th in the NHL with a 16.7% (7-42) success rate, and rank 12th on the road with a 18.8% (3-16) success rate away from MSG. The Rangers did not convert on one five-on-three chance (0:30) on Oct. 9 at HSBC Arena, and are now 0-1 on five-on-three attempts (0:30). New York is 0-1 (1:05) with a four-on-three advantage this season. Shorthanded goals allowed (0).

Penalty Killing: The Blueshirts surrendered one goal to the Blackhawks in four shorthanded situations (5:38) on Monday at MSG. New York ranks 26th in the NHL with a 77.1% (37-48) success rate, and are 17th in the league on the road with a 83.3% (20-24) success rate away from MSG. The Rangers held the Maple Leafs scoreless in one, three-on-five situation (0:31) on Saturday at Toronto, and are 4-6 on three-on-fives (5:08) this season. The Blueshirts yielded one goal in three, three-on-four situations on Oct. 15, and are now 2-3 (1:10) in those situations this season. Shorthanded goals for (1): 10/9 at BUF (Dubinsky).

Four-on-Four: New York did not tally/yield a goal in one, four-on-four situation, Monday vs. Chicago, and are now even in nine, four-on-four situations (11:44) this season. Four-on-four goals for (1): 10/18 vs. COL (Frolov). Four-on-four goals allowed (1): 10/15 vs. TOR (Kessel).

IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIAThe Rangers have posted a record of 14-3-2 (30 pts) in their last 19 games at Philadelphia, dating back to a 3-1 win on Mar. 27, 2004. Henrik Lundqvist has registered a career 7-2-1 mark in Philadelphia.

BACK-TO-BACKSTonight’s contest will begin the Rangers’ third of 18 back-to-back sets this season. The Blueshirts are currently 1-1-0 in the first game of back-to-backs following a 4-3 loss vs. Carolina on Friday, and are 1-0-0 when the first game of the set is on the road.

BLOCK PARTYThe Blueshirts currently lead the NHL with 223 blocked shots on the season, averaging a league-high, 20.3 blocked shots per contest. Dan Girardi is tied for first in the NHL with 41 blocked shots, and Ryan Callahan leads all NHL forwards with 20 blocked shots. New York has registered a combined 68 blocked shots in their last two games, posting 33 blocked shots in Monday’s 3-2 win vs. Chicago and a season-high, 35 blocked shots in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Toronto.

A BROADWAY HITThe Rangers currently rank first in the NHL with 327 hits on the season, averaging a league-high, 29.7 hits per contest. Ryan Callahan leads the team and is tied for fourth in the NHL with 42 hits, and Brian Boyle is tied for 19th in the league with 30 hits on the season.

THE HOT LIST:

The Rangers have won five of their last seven games, posting a record of 5-2-0 during the stretch

The Rangers have tallied five power play goals in the last six games, registering a 21.7% (5-23) success rate over the span

Ryan Callahan enters tonight’s contest with a career-high, seven-game scoring streak, registering 11 points (four goals, seven assists) over the span, and has recorded multiple points in four of the last five games

Henrik Lundqvist is 4-1-0 in his last five starts, registering a 1.82 goals against average, .949 save percentage and one shutout over the span

Brandon Dubinsky has registered seven points (four goals, three assists) in the last six games

Artem Anisimov has tallied six points (two goals, four assists) in the last seven games, with assists in three of the last four (four assists)

Michael Rozsival has registered five points (one goal, four assists) in the last seven games

Brandon Prust has registered an assist in each of the last two games

ALL-TIME RANGERS SHUTOUTSHenrik Lundqvist posted his first shutout of the season with a 36-save performance on Saturday at Toronto and, in the process, passed Mike Richter, Chuck Rayner and Lorne Worsley for fourth on the Rangers’ all-time regular season shutouts list with 25 career regular season shutouts.

YOUTH IS SERVEDBased on opening day rosters, the Rangers have the ninth youngest team in the NHL with an average age of 27 years and 44 days, and the second youngest defensive corp in the league, trailing only Los Angeles with an average age of 25 years and 51 days.

Pens are fighting a LOT this year. Especially when they trail. That team has gotten smaller, but tougher it seems. Boogard is going to lose his fight vs Engelland. I think Eng will tie Boo up tight and keep the fight close like he did with Shelley

Watched part of the Caps – Leafs game last night. The Capitals don’t look like the same team as last season. They took a 3-1 lead then blew it by giving up 3 quick goals in the 3rd period. They did get lucky and tied it up later and won in a shootout.

Lots of yapping from Dubinsky. If I see Dubi drop em with Richards on the opening faceoff, then we got something. We need the toughest lineup we can ice tonite, and frankly this game isn’t gonna be won on the scoreboard alone.

Prust-Carcillo is a must fight tonite.
Boogard has to run someone with his patented well after the play boarding. Just to sens a message. And if he gets a game misconduct he HAS to just grab someone and make them drop the gloves. . . . .or he is completely useless.

No, you’re not alone, Charlie. I want them to come out and play with the same effort. And I want two points. Preferably in regulation. But if Carcillo gets the carcillo kicked out of him along the way, I wouldn’t mind a bit.

I’m really looking forward to this game. The ladies in Philly have surely heard of our recently found cojones and both sides will be looking to dominant the other. I expect a good hockey game to break out along with the many side dishes to be served. I hope the officiating crew is well rested and stays the carcillo out of the way. I hope at least one of our guys earns a Gordie Howe hat trick!

As a HUGE MMA fan, I love than Prust was training with Sam Stout. In NY, there are some great combat trainers. Kru Phil Nurse for Muay Thai (The Wat in NYC) and Renzo Gracie/John Danaher for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are both in NYC. Not only does it help teach the guys to fight, but the conditioning is phenomenal. When Boogard is being Prucha’d, he should be sent to The Wat to work on his conditioning and fighting.

It will be interesting to see if Philly is going to play as aggressively as they usually do. One reason why they might dial it back a bit is because they’re facing the Isles next who I’m sure will be out for blood based on their meeting last week. I think it’s about at that time that Philly needs to have a goaltender controversy and I’d love to see a few soft goals from Bobrovsky sound the alarm in cheesesteak-ville.

Charlie, I think the Caps are taking their foot off the gas a little this year in the regular season. I believe the Islanders (can’t believe I went with them as an example) did the same in their dynasty years where after flopping a couple of times as regular season champs, like 1979, they realized that they could cruise a bit in the regular season and save some for the playoffs. They can’t going into cruise control too much, it looks like Tampa might have the legs to stay with them the entire season.

CT, hard to believe the Filly’s are smart enough to have the capability to think that far ahead. Even if they could, they won’t be able to help themselves as I fully expect Avery to unleash Dark Sean tonight!

Brodeur’s been forgetting to take his Centrum silver. The osteoperosis is setting in.

Tonight’s going to be a tough one. They won’t be able to outhustle Philly like they did Chicago. Hopefully when Philly meets the Rangers’ intensity the Blueshirts can keep their heads in the defensive zone, and for the love of (your favorite diety), keep the crease clear.

Note to Anisimov. Keep your head up.

Now that Hartnell’s chopped his mop his screening efficiency has decreased 60%, but he still won’t be above running Hank if Philly gets behind on the scoreboard.

Here’s hoping the refs are old school and not Bettmaniacal. Itchy whistles will not favor the Rangers.

I would love it if Girardi dropped them with Carcillo first chance he got…just to make up for last year.

Dubinsky and Richards always seem to have beef. Dubi hasn’t dropped the gloves in a while though, and that’s probably not a bad thing. There’s no way Carcillo goes anywhere near Boogard, unfortunately.

Mixed feelings here about Dubi answering any bells in the backwater town of sisterly affections. If he drops gloves I hope he’s taking one of their top line players off with him. We need Dubi burying biscuits more than anything else!

i’m assuming you’ve all seen this article already. sather keeps saying that fans are impatient. i don’t know about you, but i’m willing to be patient if he is. really, the only thing i’m impatient about is the fact that they haven’t fired this yet!!

I agree with ORR–Dubi’s more of a scorer in my mind, but he’s seemed to handle Richards pretty well in previous fights. Nonetheless, wouldn’t want him to get injured, especially with how well he’s been playing lately.

I’m in class tonight, but I’ll try to keep up with the score on my laptop.

Would love to see Avery delivery an Irish kiss to that piece of carcillo Carcillo. And the King better not get touched. If he does, blueshirts have to take the bluskirts off & set the tone for the rest of the season.

If this team had a better coach Boogie would be taking care of business every game but with torts who is all buster and no balls he isn’t used right. I use to watch some Wild games and when someone did something wrong to a wild player Boogie was out the next shift and making his point be heard. The crowd new it and got all reved up and even the announcers would say here comes the sheriff to take control . But torts sucks not only with Boogie but with all the players he is not the right coach for this team. Especially with a defensive unit that sucks. Sather should stop carrying all of these so called offensive defenseman which by the way have shown no offense and bring in someone who can stop a goal and knock someone down.But why do that and improve your team,why start now. The team is average at best and that hurts to say because the Rangers are my team but with this management and coach thats all we can look forward to which is sad very sad.But lets hope for a good game and some carcillo kicking tonight.

I want it to be a game where the Rangers solidify their identity, we’re going to hit you and we’re gonna work you to death, we’re going to play smart, disciplined hockey
but we won’t be bullied and WE WILL have each others back.

But for THIS one game the emphasis might be best placed on having each others back, even if it requires sacrificing some discipline and potentially a win.

Confirm it with the Flyers, the league, the fans – but must importantly with each other: WE ARE A TEAM AND WE WILL STICK UP FOR EACH OTHER.

ddebened, I agree it’s of major importance that we continue building an identity this year. However, I think being undisciplined detracts from building the identity we should be striving for. Being tough is not enough. Championship teams play with brains, muscles and heart. Remember, revenge is a meal best served cold.

Boogaard is just a guy, a huge guy. He’s one guy than can handle himself in a hockey bout. Unfortunately that is his one talent in the hockey dept. If he does not do that why are they paying him all that scratch?

I just want them to respond and stand up for each other the right way. If anyone is going to take a 2 minute penalty, make sure it isn’t soft, like a hook or interference. Nothing wrong with a little chippyness….

I’ll be curious to see how if Nik Zherdev’s ass sticks to the Filly ice the way it stuck to the MSG ice. For several games when he first started playing for us I thought he had been injured after taking a hit. No injury, he just lays there waiting for someone, anyone to help him get up. I hope he gets knocked down every shift. He’s the definition of soft.

I think that infamous Carcillo/Girardi incident was as much learning experience for Torts as it was for the whole team. I believe Torts realized that Girardi didn’t jump in because the team was getting mixed messages from Torts as to what he would consider an acceptable penalty and which one would be unacceptable. He made it clear this year by verbalizing it to the team, the media, and by his actions when he praised Avery after he got back from his instigator penalty vs Boston.

ARGH!!!!! Good evening all! I can’t believe I’m going to miss watching this game, but I am. Got a standing appointment. Hartnell! I trust in you to leave good commentary for when I get home and catch up.